Mitch McConnell starts with big war chest

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) enters the 2014 cycle with $7.4 million cash on hand after raising $715,000 in the final three months of 2012.

That’s an impressive haul during a period when fundraising was not a priority. It includes the final month of the presidential campaign, two years before he’s on the ballot for a sixth term and the stretch when he helped negotiate the compromise that averted the fiscal cliff.

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The minority leader brought in more than $10 million during the past cycle — more than most incumbents raise during the cycle they’re up for election. It’s more than Kentucky’s junior senator, Rand Paul, brought in during his entire winning campaign in 2010.

“Leader McConnell’s prolific fundraising will allow us to make Kentucky a new standard of excellence in campaigning the entire country will look to,” campaign manager Jesse Benton told POLITICO. “We will have the best tools and vast resources to make sure we communicate to every Kentuckian about Sen. McConnell’s tremendous leadership and the service he provides every day for our state.”

Because he is leader, McConnell is a dream target for the opposition. Democratic donors and liberal activists have offered to help fund and support a tea party candidate who might challenge him in the primary. Actress Ashley Judd is considering running for the seat as a Democrat.

Going into 2008, McConnell had $2.7 million on hand and went on to raise more than $20 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, McConnell spent $170,000 from his campaign account. He’s brought on top-flight operatives and focused on shoring up support from his conservative base.